Disclaimer: It's MINE!!!!....Or not.

This idea sprouted from my fascination with all things medieval, and with everything involving a "dark secret" of some sort. I generally stick to fluff and funnies, but I'm gonna try to do something with an actual plot now. *le gasp* It's going to be very difficult for me to write, I think, but I'm very excited about it. No harm in trying, eh? And if you guys like it, I'll be motivated to try harder, lol. Still, I might be slower updating it than I am with my other story.

As a bit of a backdrop, I'm picturing Oz in this story as having kind of a LOTR/Stardust feel to it (yes, I did borrow the name "Lamia" from Stardust). It's not a happy place- "dark times" and all that, you know. I'm thinking I want Elphie to be around 5 years old in this chapter.

Oh, as a side note- I've got the basics of the plot worked out (and I've figured out how Yero fits in, of course, lol) but that's pretty much it. It's pretty sketchy at the moment, so if anyone has ideas, PLEASE let me know.

Prologue

Oz was a dangerous place; there was no doubt about that. Witchcraft of every kind ran rampant, and one could only hope and pray not to end up on the wrong end of it. Hope, because nothing was certain. Pray, because no one was safe.

Chapter 1: Secrets

She was dying, and she knew it. Despite the vehement denials of her husband and the midwife, Melena Thropp was certain of that. Death has a funny way of making one remember their mistakes, their regrets…and their secrets. And of Melena's many secrets, not the least of which was the true father of her oldest daughter, all but one would go with her to the grave. All but one….

"Elphaba," she whispered hoarsely. "I need to see Elphaba."

The child was fetched, and Melena ordered everyone else out of the room. She motioned weakly for her daughter to come to her. Elphaba looked at her mother with wide, tear-filled eyes; they were the tears of an innocent child thrust face-to-face with reality in all its bitterness. "Mommy, are you going to die?"

Melena smiled sadly, her heart aching for the little girl. "I'm afraid so. But you mustn't be afraid, darling." The child's lip had begun to quiver. "We don't have much time, and there's something very important that I have to tell you- something you must never tell anyone else. Do you understand?" Elphaba nodded, still tearful.

Melena lifted a shaking hand to point across the room. "Go to my wardrobe and you will find a small door in the floor, underneath the pile of clothes in the corner," she instructed. "Open it and bring me the book that's inside."

Elphaba did as she was told, removing a dusty, ancient-looking leather-bound book from the small compartment and handing it to her mother. "This," Melena rasped, "is the Grimmerie."

Elphaba gasped. "But Mommy, you said it wasn't real."

"I only said that to protect you. But now…" Finding the energy to speak was becoming harder. "When I am gone, Elphaba, you will have to do that for yourself."

"What do you mean, Mommy?" Elphaba whimpered, frightened at the thought of her mother being gone.

"Elphaba, only one other person in Oz knows of this book's existence- a sorceress, Lamia, who would use it to destroy our world. She doesn't know that I have it, but she's searching….always searching." She stopped for a moment, coughing violently, then found her voice again and continued, "Elphaba, when I am gone, you must guard this book with your life. You have…the gift, and you must learn to use it." She placed the book in her daughter's hands. "Learn these spells, but use them wisely- a single misplaced word may wreak havoc on an entire nation."

"Mommy, I'm scared." Elphaba was sobbing now, fear for the loss of her mother combined with fear of this strange book and the witch who was after it.

"Here." Melena removed the necklace she wore- a silver chain with a small amethyst pendant- and slipped it over her daughter's head. "As long as you wear this, she cannot find you. Never take it off. One slip from you, one moment without this necklace, is all she needs to learn who possesses this book. She cannot find you so long as you wear it, but if she discovers so much as your name, she will do all in her power to destroy you and everyone you care about. Guard your emotions carefully; she will not hesitate to use anyone you love against you."

"One more thing- I love you, Phaba. Never forget that, no matter how horrible your father is. Always remember that...that your mother loves you. " Her voice broke, and she stroked the small girl's cheek one last time, then whispered, "Go. Hide the book. Your father must never learn any of this. Go, my darling- quickly, before he comes back."

With a last longing look at her mother, Elphaba scurried from the room, crying uncontrollably. Her task complete, Melena closed her eyes and surrendered to the all-encompassing nothingness of death.

What do y'all think? The little button is smiling at you…. "Push me, please!" it says.